B. Organize With Others:
I. Partnership with Conference or Event -
II. Volunteers –
III. Reach out to all networks to gather volunteers, resources, and get the word out
I. Partnership with Conference or Event -
- Have a contact person.
- Know timeline for the conference or event.
- Expectations - Set some shared expectations.
- We partner with conference/event organizers and have certain expectations that we help them to meet:
- “Childcare provided” needs to go on the website; and be included in all their media about the event *
- Childcare registration for parents to register ahead of time (how many, what age, and special needs) – to help with preparation.
- Help with the outreach for childcare and children’s programming within their networks (Forward our emails to their contacts)
- Help provide concrete resources such as space, food, and some of the volunteers and activity materials
- To be responsive and committed to working together to better support parents and children access and participation in the conference/event.
- Meetings - Have meetings and check-ins. You may also want to:
- Go to the larger event organizing meetings so you can keep in better contact with them.
- Invite organizers to your meeting.
- Embed – Keep thinking of ways that there can be all-ages interaction between the children’s programming and larger event, such as:
- Children present at closing ceremony
- Workshops for youth. Reach out to conference presenters to see if they will share their skills at a youth’s level.
- Statement send out on inclusion or family friendly policy
II. Volunteers –
- Keep looking for volunteers.
- Have a list of previous volunteers.
- Create many different levels of participation from doing childcare to dropping off snacks.
- Find volunteers who will share their skills at a child’s level. Help support folks who are not sure how to do that.
- Childcare volunteers are never left alone with children. We always have at least one core Kidz City Collective member bottom-lining as well as other childcare volunteers. We also have a policy that no one Kidz City collective member should be left alone with children, no matter who they are, as a safety measure.
- How will you screen new volunteers? We ask them their experience, interest, references, and what organizations, collectives or folks that we may know in common; and try to get a sense of them in this manner. Then we always pair new volunteers with folks that we have worked with before.
- Childcare volunteer slots are between 2-3 hours. If someone wants to volunteer twice or more we highly encourage taking breaks between shifts.
- Will volunteers get a discount or attend for the conference for free the day they volunteer?
- Will you have a volunteer orientation? Or just send out materials/emails with info (including location, contact info) they need to know before the conference?
- Continue to consult with parents and youth on how to best support them by asking the parents and youth that are: either involved in the event; or that you know; or asking your collaborators to reach out in their networks.
- Asking specific questions such as: input on food, childcare needs, activities, and consult on event/conference planning. As well as less specific input like: How can we support you? What do you need to be able to participate?
- Informally by person, phone or email
- by survey, registration
- having childcare and food at meetings during times parents can attend
III. Reach out to all networks to gather volunteers, resources, and get the word out
- Donations – Sometimes people may want to donate things. We have an amazing dress-up clothes box because of one of our friends donating her old childhood tap and dance costumes.
on to --> C. Nuts & Bolts (space, media, supplies, food, programming and activities)